Live updates: Follow the latest on Syria
A ceasefire between Turkey and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) around the northern city of Manbij has been extended until the end of the week, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Tuesday, after the US-backed group proposed a “demilitarised zone” to end the fighting.
The ceasefire was brokered by Washington last week after heavy fighting broke out between the Kurds and Turkish-backed groups earlier this month as rebels advanced on Damascus and overthrew the Assad regime. Factions backed by Ankara took over the city of Manbij, leading to the truce that saw the SDF withdraw east of the Euphrates river.
“That ceasefire has been holding. It had expired; it has been extended into the end of this week,” Mr Miller said during a regular press briefing. “We continue to engage with the SDF, with Turkey about a path forward,” he said, adding that the US hopes the truce will be extended for as long as possible. “But I also shouldn’t understate that this is a challenging issue. It’s a very challenging issue.”
The SDF played a key role in the defeat of ISIS in Syria. The troops are led by the YPG, which Turkey views as a Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a separatist group that has a fought a 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state. Ankara and allied Syrian factions view the Kurdish groups as an organisation with separatist aims, but the YPG says it is fighting for greater Kurdish rights.
Mr Miller said Washington understood Turkish concerns over the PKK, which is designated as a terrorist group by both Turkey and the US, but that they were “trying to find a path forward”.
“The concern that we have is broader than just Kobani. The concern we have is to any increase in fighting in northern Syria at this point,” he said.
His remarks came after SDF commander Mazloum Abdi proposed a “demilitarised zone” in the Kurdish-majority city of Kobani with the reposting of security troops with US supervision and presence. Mr Abdi said the initiative was aimed at confirming the group's “steadfast commitment to achieving a comprehensive ceasefire”.
“This initiative is to address Turkish security concerns and ensure permanent stability in the region,” he said on X. However, fighting has continued between both sides, with Turkish-backed troops firing at areas south of Kobani, a separate SDF statement said.
The presence of about 900 US troops in north-eastern Syria has likely prevented Turkey and the Syrian National Army (SNA) from advancing into Kurdish-held territory. As Nato allies, Ankara and Washington have avoided direct conflict throughout the Syrian civil war despite backing opposing sides.
UN envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen had earlier warned that the conflict in Syria was not over, referring to the clashes between Kurdish groups and Turkish-backed factions. “A five-day ceasefire has now expired and I am seriously concerned about reports of military build-ups,” Mr Pedersen said. “Such an escalation could be catastrophic.”
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You Were Never Really Here
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Joaquim Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov
Four stars
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
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Multitasking pays off for money goals
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That's how much Ms O'Neill, a distinguished professor at Rutgers University in the US, figures she lost by starting saving for retirement only after she had created an emergency fund, bought a car with cash and purchased a home.
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People do not realise how costly the words "as soon as" can be. Paying off debt is a worthy goal, but it should not come at the expense of other goals, particularly saving for retirement. The sooner money is contributed, the longer it can benefit from compounded returns. Compounded returns are when your investment gains earn their own gains, which can dramatically increase your balances over time.
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- Option 2: 50% across three years
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- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
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Hunting park to luxury living
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BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
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Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
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Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.
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Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
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bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
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